Abstract DALTON, EDWARD. Durable Flame Retardant and Antimicrobial Nano-Finishing.

Due to the costs associated with processing, materials, and the inherent difficulties in applying durable flame retardant and/or antimicrobial finishes, alternatives to conventional finishing methodologies are one of the focal points in today’s textile research and industry. We, therefore, propose a new nano-finishing, involving the use of conventional flame retardants, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, and multifunctional silanes, to replace conventional methodologies as this new finishing combines the functionality of flame retardant and antimicrobial performance, each feeding off of the synergistic properties of the other. In this work, 100 % cotton and 80/20 polyester/cotton fabrics were treated with a combination of Degussa P25 TiO2 nanoparticles, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride and urea flame retardants, and silane cross-linkers (such as tetraethoxysilane). These fabrics were prepared using a conventional pad-dry-cure laboratory-scale methodology. Following the coating process, fabrics were evaluated for flame retardant performance through the use of a vertical flame chamber. Fabrics were also evaluated for antimicrobial performance under varying light conditions (i.e. ultraviolet, visible, and n